Today we’d like to introduce you to Page Knudsen Cowles. She and her team share their story with us below:
Knudsen Vineyard is a storied wine-growing property in the Willamette Valley founded in 1971; a family endeavor then and now, the 230-acre landholding in the heart of the Dundee Hills AVA has grown some of the most sought-after grapes in the region for almost 50 years. Led by the second generation since 2009, Knudsen Vineyards produces a terroir-driven line of Pinot noir and Chardonnay wines. In 2020, the Knudsen family opened their first tasting room on the property, an opportunity to share this historical site with the public.
In the late 1960s, C. Calvert “Cal” Knudsen and his wife Julia Lee returned from a trip to France entirely captivated by the wine-growing regions of Burgundy and Champagne. A lawyer and timber products executive by profession, Cal intuited and researched now proven similarities between the Willamette Valley and Burgundy. That vision led him to purchase a 230-acre former walnut orchard, with two south and east-facing slopes, located in the center of what became the Dundee Hills AVA.
Established in 1971, Knudsen Vineyards was founded as a family endeavor, so Cal and Julia Lee could provide an opportunity for the four Knudsen children — Page, Cal Jr., Colin, and David — to learn about the wine-growing business and develop a connection with the land. Against a nascent Willamette Valley wine industry, Cal met Dick Erath, another grape-growing and winemaking pioneer in the region. In 1972, planting began, with Cal directing and consulting from his office and Dick providing the expertise and labor on the ground; In 1975, Cal and Dick formed Knudsen Erath Winery, the first bonded winery in the Dundee Hills. The winery partnership ended amicably in 1987, so amicably that Dick bought the buildings, leased the ground from Knudsen on which the buildings stood, and continued to operate on-site as Erath Winery.
That same year, the former Dundee Wine Company, now Argyle Winery, was established in Dundee, with Rollin Soles as Head Winemaker and General Manager. Cal loved Champagne and believed the region could produce exceptional examples of méthode champenoise sparkling wine. He partnered with Rollin and Knudsen Vineyard and became Argyle’s founding source for high-elevation Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for sparkling and still wines.
For over 30 years, Cal was a cheerleader for the emerging wine industry in the Willamette Valley. His positivity and innovative spirit helped lay the foundation for a wine region where the overwhelming feeling remains one of collaboration over competition. When Cal died in 2009, his four children inherited the vineyard. There was no question about keeping it in the family to honor and embrace their parents’ legacy. In 2012, the four Knudsen siblings brought more attention to their family vineyard with the decision to make wine under their eponymous label, Knudsen Vineyards. Equally owned by the four siblings, Knudsen Vineyards enlisted Argyle winemaker Nate Klostermann to oversee winemaking. The second and third generations of the Knudsen family work with Nate on final blending decisions every year.
Knudsen Vineyards’ first vintage Pinot was produced in 2012, and a vintage Chardonnay followed in 2013. Since then, a focused line of limited-production premium Pinot noir and Chardonnay wines has been sold directly to consumers and through a developing network of distributors. All wines are estate-grown.
In 2020, the Knudsen family opened its first tasting room at their 130-acre vineyard. Located in the former Erath Winery tasting room, which has operated continuously at Knudsen Vineyards since 1976, the Knudsen family is delighted to share this historical and singular site with the public.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In March 2020, just as the first COVID lockdown occurred in the state of Oregon, we took possession of the former Erath Tasting Room, which had operated on a ground lease for 35 years on our property. We could renovate the facility because construction was considered an essential industry by the state’s governor. We completed the project on time and opened The Outlook at Knudsen Vineyards in June 2020. I like to call us the “50-year-old startup”. While constrained by COVID restrictions for our first 1/2 year of operation, we welcomed quite a few guests to the property. In 2021, our visitation increased markedly, and we provided great quality service while serving excellent wines. Because of the “Great Resignation” and COVID worries, staffing has been a challenge. That said, we employ a great group of people who care about providing excellent hospitality to all our guests.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I serve as Managing Partner of my family’s 51-year-old vineyard, winery, and tasting room in the Dundee Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. My three brothers and I own the business, and I live part-time in Oregon and part-time in the Twin Cities of Minnesota with my husband, Jay Cowles. As Managing Partner, I oversee all business functions, from viticulture in the vineyard to production in the winery to providing hospitality service to all our tasting room guests. I am proud of the business my family has built over the past 50 years and look forward to stewarding the business and the vineyard property sustainably over the next 50 years. Our family is known to be one of the pioneers in the Oregon wine industry, given our start in the early days of the business. Our vineyard is considered one of the best in Oregon; thus, the wines produced from our estate grapes are high-quality prestige-level wines.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My father, Cal Knudsen, and my mother, Julia Lee Knudsen. My husband, Jay Cowles
My children – are Lux, Colin, and Maxwell.
My brothers – Cal, Colin, and David
Pricing:
- 2019 Family Series Pinot noir – $55/bottle
- 2019 Family Series Chardonnay – $55/bottle
- 2021 Family Series Rosé – $35/bottle
- 2019 Founders Series CCK Pinot noir – $90/bottle
- 2019 Founders Series JLK Chardonnay – $90/bottle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://knudsenvineyards.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/knudsenvineyards
- Facebook:facebook.com/knudsenvineyards
- Youtube: youtube.com/knudsenvineyards
